Desperate Journalist
Desperate Journalist | |
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Desperate Journalist performing at Indietracks 2015. Rob Hardy (left), Jo Bevan (right) | |
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Post punk, indie rock |
Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | Fierce Panda |
Associated acts |
If...[1] The Drowners[2] |
Website | http://www.desperatejournalist.co.uk/ |
Members |
Jo Bevan Simon Drowner Rob Hardy Caroline Helbert |
Desperate Journalist are a London-based post punk band, formed in 2012. They released their debut album, the self-titled Desperate Journalist, in 2014, on Fierce Panda Records. A second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017.[3]
Biography
The band was formed in North London in 2012, by Jo Bevan (vocals), Rob Hardy (guitar), Simon Drowner (bass) and Caroline Helbert (drums). Hardy and Drowner had previously played together in Birmingham-based band The Drowners;[2] Drowner had then later played bass in Bevan's previous band If....[1] Helbert joined the band as drummer, having "never really played before".[4] They wrote their first song, "Kitten", at their first rehearsal.[5][6] The band's name derives from The Cure song, "Desperate Journalist in Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation".[7][8]
The band played their first gig in February 2013 at the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park. After self-releasing debut EP Cristina they were quickly signed by Fierce Panda, who released "Organ" and "Happening" as singles, leading to their debut album, Desperate Journalist, in November 2014, which was recorded at Dean Street Studios with Keith TOTP.[9][10][11][12]
The Quietus, reviewing their debut album, described them as "beautiful and spellbinding";[7] Drowned in Sound said that they had "effortless grace" and praised Bevan's vocals.[13] The band toured the United Kingdom to support the release of the album, including an appearance at Whitby.[12]
In 2015 the band played indietracks, headlined the 100 Club, and released a new EP, Good Luck.[14] In 2016, they toured Europe in the spring, and supported Chameleons Vox on a UK tour in August, as well as recording a second album, the first they had written as a complete unit.[15][6]
The second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017, backed by a headline tour of the UK and Germany, including a date at the Scala. The first single, "Hollow", was released in October 2016, with an official music video following in November.[16] It was reviewed well by Stereogum, and was picked out as Song of the Day by KEXP.[17][3][18] The second single, "Resolution", about New Year's Eve parties, was released on January 1, 2017, and has been playlisted by BBC Radio 6 Music. A music video was released on January 27.[19][20][21][22] A third single, "Be Kind", was released in March 2017, two weeks before the album. It was playlisted by Virgin Radio UK.[23][24] The fourth and single, "Why Are You So Boring?", a 'protest song about tossers' was released in June 2017.[25] The band toured in summer 2017, including festival appearances at Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Tramlines, and Benicàssim.
Members
- Jo Bevan – vocals
- Simon Drowner – bass guitar
- Rob Hardy – guitar
- Caroline Helbert – drums
Discography
Albums
- Desperate Journalist album (November 2014)
- Grow Up album (March 2017)[3]
Singles and EPs
- Cristina EP [Cristina/Mistakes/Kitten/Wait] (June 2013)[26]
- "Organ" [CDs b/w "Distance"] (November 2013)[27]
- "Happening" [CDS b/w "Vengeance"] (May 2014)[28]
- "Hesitate" [CDs b/w "Happening (Medium Wave remix)"/"The Fire"] (June 2015)[29]
- Good Luck EP [Good Luck/Leave Home/A Phase/Paint Something/Perfect Health] (October 2015)[30]
- "Hollow" [CDs b/w "Hollow (Medium Wave remix)"] (October 2016)[17]
- "Resolution" [CDs b/w "Bruce"] (January 2017)[19]
- "Be Kind" (March 2017)[23]
- "Why Are You So Boring" [CDs b/w ""Be Kind" and "Your Genius" (Pop10.de acoustic sessions)] (June 2017)[25]
References
- 1 2 "We are If...". Soundcloud. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
- 1 2 "The Drowners UK". Soundcloud. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
- 1 2 3 "Exclusive: Desperate Journalist unveil sinister ‘Hollow’ clip, announce new album ‘Grow Up’". Nothing But Hope and Passion. 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ↑ Kail, Gary. "Adults Only". The Skinny North (March/April 2017). Retrieved 2017-03-02.
- ↑ Luzzo, Fabrizio (2017-02-24). "Desperate Journalist". Last Day Deaf.
- 1 2 Auton, James (2017-02-23). "Desperate Journalist – interview". Louder than War. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- 1 2 Allen, Jeremy (2015-01-21). "Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist". The Quietus. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ Garland, Emma (2014-10-31). "The Cure's "Desperate Journalist" Is The Perfect Diss That Nobody Heard". Vice. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ↑ "About Desperate Journalist". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ "Indietracks interview #17: Desperate Journalist". indietracks. 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ↑ "A chat with Desperate Journalist". And So She Things. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- 1 2 "Desperate Journalist Panic On!". Fierce Panda. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
- ↑ Fenwick, Tom (2015-01-22). "Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ Gibsone, Harriet (2014-11-03). "The playlist: indie – Ariel Pink, Panda Bear and the Gallaghers". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ "Desperate Journalist 'leave Home' Again...". Fierce Panda. 2016-03-16.
- ↑ "Desperate Journalist - Hollow (Official Video)". Desperate Journalist. 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- 1 2 DeVille, Chris (2016-10-25). "Desperate Journalist – "Hollow"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
- ↑ Howland, Matthew (2017-01-10). "Song of the Day: Desperate Journalist – Hollow". Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- 1 2 "NING 112". The Ning Standard. Fierce Panda. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
- ↑ "Premiere: Desperate Journalist reveal new track Resolution". Louder Than War. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
- ↑ BBC Radio 6 Music [@BBC6Music] (2017-01-17). "New to the playlist - tracks from @boniver @TheRyanAdams @theflaminglips @petedoherty @DespJournalist and more bbc.in/2ixU0Rk" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Clarke, Patrick (2017-01-27). "WATCH: New Desperate Journalist Vid". The Quietus. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- 1 2 Johnson, Laura (2017-03-10). "Desperate Journalist Stream New Single Be Kind". Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ↑ Stephanie May [@missmayormaynot] (2017-03-13). "New additions to the @VirginRadioUK Daytime Playlist next week come from @DespJournalist @gavinjames @lomoon @marklanegan @mrjukesmusic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- 1 2 "DESPERATE JOURNALIST RELEASE NEW SINGLE ON JUNE 2ND". Fierce Panda. 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
- ↑ "Bandcamp: Cristina EP". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ "Bandcamp: Organ". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ "Bandcamp: Happening". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ "Bandcamp: Hesitate". Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Desperate-Journalist-Good-Luck/release/7596771